John Collins has expressed regret over the comments he made on the standard of Scottish football which were branded 'disrespectful' by Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes.

Celtic's assistant manager offended top-flight rivals by suggesting they were not 'clever enough' or 'quick enough thinkers' to test his side the way European sides might.

Despite drawing with Kilmarnock and losing to Aberdeen in the weeks since the storm erupted, Collins at least stands by his sentiments – but concedes he might have phrased them better after McInnes branded them 'poor' and 'disrespectful to the rest of the league'.

John Collins takes training ahead of Celtic's clash with Dundee on Sunday

Share this article

'Maybe I could've chosen my words better,' acknowledged Collins. 'Maybe it was also about interpretation of the words.

'But nothing surprises. I've been in the game long enough, nothing surprises me.'

Insisting he had no issue with McInnes, Collins revealed he spoke with the Dons boss after last weekend's Pittodrie defeat. No reference was made to the recent public spat.

'People can have their opinions,' he added. 'It's not a problem.

'I had a cup of tea with him last week in his office. It's gone, it's past, it' s history.'

Asked if he stood by a sentiment – widely agreed on by many – that Celtic suffer in Europe for a lack of regular tests in domestic competition, a terse Collins shrugged: 'I said what I said. Some people didn't like it, but I said it. It's time to move on.

'There's not a problem whatsoever.

'Everybody has an opinion. Not everyone's the same, everybody's got a different opinion.'

Celtic's Efe Ambrose (centre) is all smiles at training as the Bhoys returned to domestic action

Inevitably, the former Scotland international's observations were cast up gleefully by rivals in the aftermath of dropped points at Rugby Park and Pittodrie.

'You don't take your chances, the other team takes theirs. You lose points. It' s something we try to guard against but that's football. It's unpredictable.'

Of the view Aberdeen will push Celtic hard again this season, Collins echoes his manager Ronny Deila that the Parkhead side will see off all challengers.

'I think it's going to be the same as last year, a big challenge,' he said. 'They proved last year they are a good football team and they lasted the whole season, they kept going. They've added to their squad. Graeme Shinnie is a very good player.

'They've added a striker and another centre half. They've bolstered their squad. It's going to be a challenge but it's great having a challenge — that's what it's all about, isn't it? That's good for everybody.

'Nobody's got a crystal ball. Time will tell. I've said they're a good team, they're well balanced, with a good attitude and work ethic.

'So, they are going to give us a challenge. We've got to be ready for it — but we will be.'

Advertisement

Share or comment on this article:

John Collins regrets claiming Celtic's rivals were not 'clever enough' to test champions